§ 16-17. Fire department repository unit.

(a)

Required.

(1)

The owner or person in control of the following types of buildings in the town shall install and maintain a fire department repository unit of a type approved by the fire marshal at or near the main entrance or such other location designated by the fire marshal.

a.

Any condominium or apartment building or other rental building containing four or more residential living units and in which access of the building or to common areas or mechanical or electrical rooms within the building is denied through locked doors.

b.

Commercial, retail, and industrial structures.

c.

Governmental structures and nursing care facilities.

d.

Any building or facility containing a quantity of hazardous materials, which would require compliance with Title III of SARA (Superfund Amendment Reauthorization Act).

e.

Any other commercial or industrial buildings identified by fire officials as difficult to access during emergencies.

f.

Private residences that voluntarily install repository units shall be subject to all provisions of this section.

(2)

Persons or entities who own existing buildings or structures which have a monitored fire alarm or sprinkler system are subject to the requirements of this chapter and shall have one year from the effective date of this section to comply with the requirements.

(3)

Persons or entities that inhabit existing buildings as a new business, change in ownership of an existing business, or construct buildings or structures, which would be subject to the requirements of this chapter, shall comply with the requirements prior to issuance of the certificate of occupancy.

(b)

Keys required. The owner or person in control of the buildings or facilities described in subsection (a) required to have a fire department repository unit shall cause to be placed in such repository unit a key to the following areas:

(1)

Locked points of access in the exterior of the building or facility.

(2)

Locked points of access to common area, such as hallways or utility rooms, contained within such buildings or facilities.

(3)

Locked mechanical rooms.

(4)

Locked electrical rooms.

(5)

All other locked areas, other than individual apartments or rented rooms, as directed by the fire chief.

(c)

Accesses to fire department repository unit. The owner or person in control of any building or facility described in subsection (a) required to have a fire department repository unit shall be present, himself or through his agent, during access to such repository unit by the fire department except when the fire department has responded to an emergency at the property.

(d)

Rules and regulations. The fire chief will establish rules and regulations for the placement of fire department repository units within the town, including approved types of fire department repository units. Proposed rules and regulations will be submitted to the town council and filed with the town clerk and shall become effective 14 days after the submission to town council.

(e)

Update of keys and information. The owner or person in control of any building or facility described in subsection (a) required to have a fire department repository unit shall do the following:

(1)

Provide keys capable of access to such fire department repository unit at all times to the fire department.

(2)

Maintain current information of hazardous materials stored in the building or facility in the fire department repository unit or, if the volume of material is too large to place in the repository unit, shall file said information with the fire chief.

(f)

Limitation of liability. The town assumes no liability for any of the following:

(1)

Any defects in the operation of the repository unit, or any of the keys contained within such repository unit or any information stored within the repository unit or otherwise provided to the town;

(2)

The failure or neglect to respond appropriately upon receipt of an alarm from an alarm system;

(3)

The failure or neglect of any owner or person in control of a building or facility required to have a repository unit to provide access to the repository unit; or

(4)

The security of any property required having a repository unit due to access to the repository unit by any person.

(Ord. of 9-16-2005(2); Ord. of 10-10-2006(1); Amend. of 4-8-2014(2); Amend. of 10-14-2014)